THORNTON — Matt Jagiello didn’t have a good feel for his dives during warm-ups, but, thankfully for him, those weren’t the ones that counted.
In fact, Jagiello’s three dives in the finals of the 2013 Dick Rush Coaches Invitational at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center got progressively better. That helped the Chargers junior to take fourth with 393.05 points on March 30.

It had become routine for C.J. Gillman. A handful of leads that would see him realize his dream of being with a Major League Baseball club, only to come up empty-handed.
Then entered Mike Lansing. The former Colorado Rockie is not only an area scout for the big-league club, he’s also an assistant coach at Columbine High School — the same school that Gillman not only graduated from but where his father, Chuck, is the head coach.

Taylor Rogers won’t say that he’s a creature of habit, but he does like having a routine. That fits who he is. And while the bus rides from city to city are what they are, it’s the job that fits the personality of the 22-year-old laid-back left-hander.

Three organizations are joining forces to produce a public fund-raiser to support programs that connect children and families to nature. The Party for Parks will be held at the Red Rocks Visitor Center from 6 to 10 p.m. April 5. Tickets are $50 at www.jeffcooutdoors.org.

The Jefferson County Outdoors Foundation, the Denver Mountain Parks Association and Great Outdoors Colorado are sponsoring the gala, which celebrates multiple anniversaries. Proceeds benefit nonprofit Jeffco Outdoors, formerly known as the Jeffco Open Space Foundation.

BASEBALL
Chargers stymie Arapahoe to start off 2013 season at 2-0Nick Low and Nick Chamberlain combined to throw a five-hitter and Sean O’Dell drove in two runs as Chatfield improved to 2-0 with a 6-2 win over visiting Arapahoe on March 20.
Low allowed two runs on five hits through four innings, while teamming with Chamberlain to strike out 10.
O’Dell went 1-for-2 with a two-run single. Race Fenimore had two hits, including a double.

LAKEWOOD — Make no bones about it: The Columbine Rebels won’t be creeping up on teams in 2013. Not like last year, when they worked their way into the boys lacrosse state semifinals. This year, it’s going to be the opposite, and Columbine expects as much.

The scene, with Cherry Creek players rushing the field at Deer Creek Middle School at the conclusion of the Lady Bruins’ 12-9 girls lacrosse victory over host Chatfield on March 22, said a lot. It showed that not only is this year’s Chatfield team, which was ranked fourth in the state entering the contest, not a fluke, but that it has come far and proven worthy of such a high distinction early in the 2013 season.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Columbine seeks head coach after Lodden steps down
Jeff Lodden has resigned as the varsity head coach for Columbine High School, athletic director Scott Christy said via e-mail March 17.
Lodden led the Lady Rebels to a 7-17 record during the 2012-13 season, including 6-10 in the 5A Jeffco League. Columbine lost in the first round of the state tournament to Doherty.
Columbine is searching for a new head coach. Anyone interested in the position should contact Christy at 303-982-3545 or schristy@jeffco.k12.co.us.